Researchers in Pakistan have tested different configurations of an off-grid PV hydrogen system intended to power EV chargers. The system achieved the lowest levelized electricity costs when combined with battery storage.
An international research team has conducted a techno-economic analysis of a standalone EV charging station that uses solar energy and hydrogen as electricity sources and can also be linked to a lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery.
The analysis was carried out using the simulation software HOMER under the environmental conditions of the southeastern Pakistani city of Jamshoro. “Hybrid PV-hydrogen and PV-hydrogen battery are the two different scenarios that are carried out and compared based on both their technical and financial points of view,” the researchers specified, noting that the chosen location has a daily solar radiation of 5.53. kWh/m2.
It was assumed that the simulated standalone station would use an indefinite number of solar panels, with a power of 327 W and an efficiency of 21%. It was assumed that they would have a life of 25 years and that the total annualized cost would be $118,618.74. The electrolyzer had an efficiency of 75%, a lifespan of 15 years and an annualized cost of $51,669.94. The proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell had a life of 40,000 hours and annual cost of $20,667.72, while the hydrogen tank had a life of 25 years and annual cost of $6,729.83.
That system was then compared to an identical system with the addition of a 1 kWh Li-Ion battery, with a ten-year lifespan and a cost of $20,856.92 per year. In both scenarios the system has an EV load of 1,700 kWh/day. The EVs were believed to be MG ZS EV SUVs with a 44.5 kWh battery, which can receive a maximum charge of 22 kW.
From the analysis, the group concluded that the hybrid energy system with PV hydrogen batteries offers many more financial and economic benefits than the PV hydrogen energy system alone. “In addition, you also see that the costs of energy from hybrid PV-hydrogen batteries are becoming more attractive $0.358/kWhof $0.412/kWh energy costs from hybrid PV-hydrogen,” the researchers further explain.
“The power produced by the hybrid PV-hydrogen battery energy for the daily load demand of 1700 kWh/day consists of two energies independently produced by the PV and fuel cells of 87.4% and 12.6 respectively %,” the group emphasized.
The findings were presented in “Techno-economic analysis of a standalone hybrid PV-hydrogen based plug-in charging station for electric vehicles”, published in Energy reports. The research was conducted by scientists from Pakistan’s Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Qatar University of Qatar, Sharjah University in the United Arab Emirates and Iran’s Islamic Azad University.
“The findings of this study gave an encouraging nod for the planning of an off-grid, perfectly renewable system via PV and hydrogen with battery system due to its cost-effective nature,” the team concluded.
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